PrussianRoyaltyHouse of Hohenzollern18th century

Prince Louis Charles of Prussia

Prince Louis Charles of Prussia (1773-1796) was a Hohenzollern prince, son of Frederick William II, who married Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, had three children, and died from diphtheria.

1. Overview

Prince Frederick Louis Charles of Prussia (Friedrich Ludwig KarlFrederick Louis CharlesGerman; often called Louis; Potsdam, 5 November 1773 – Berlin, 28 December 1796) was a member of the House of Hohenzollern, serving as the second son and third child of Frederick William II of Prussia and his second wife, Frederika Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt. Despite his short life, he played a role in the Prussian royal family, marrying Duchess Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and having three children before his premature death from diphtheria at the age of 23.

2. Life

Banner of the Holy Roman Empire, a symbol of the Holy Roman Empire, a historical entity closely related to the House of Hohenzollern.
Banner of the Holy Roman Empire, a symbol of the Holy Roman Empire, a historical entity closely related to the House of Hohenzollern.

Prince Louis Charles's life, though brief, was marked by his birth into the Prussian royal family, his marriage, and the birth of his children.

2.1. Early life and background

Prince Frederick Louis Charles was born in Potsdam on 5 November 1773. He was the second son and third child of Frederick William II of Prussia, who was then the Crown Prince of Prussia, and his second wife, Frederika Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt (Friederike Luise von Hessen-DarmstadtFrederica Louisa of Hesse-DarmstadtGerman).

2.2. Marriage and issue

On 26 December 1793, in Berlin, Prussia, Prince Louis Charles married Duchess Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Frederica was the youngest daughter of Charles II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Notably, this marriage took place just two days after his elder brother, Frederick William III of Prussia, married Frederica's sister, Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, establishing a dual familial tie between the two royal houses.
The couple had three children:

  • Prince Frederick Wilhelm Ludwig of Prussia (30 October 1794 – 27 July 1863). He later married Princess Luise of Anhalt-Bernburg (1799–1882) and became the father of Prince George of Prussia and Prince Alexander of Prussia.
  • Prince Friedrich Wilhelm Karl Georg (26 September 1795 – 6 April 1798). He died in early childhood.
  • Princess Frederica Wilhelmina Louise Amalia of Prussia (30 September 1796 – 1 January 1850). She married Leopold IV, Duke of Anhalt-Dessau (1794–1871) and had issue.

2.3. Death

Prince Louis Charles died prematurely in Berlin on 28 December 1796, at the age of 23. His death was caused by diphtheria. Following his death, his widow, Frederica, went on to marry twice more, eventually becoming Queen of Hanover through her final marriage.

3. Ancestry

Prince Frederick Louis Charles of Prussia was a direct descendant of prominent European noble houses. His genealogical lineage illustrates his connections to various royal and ducal families.

  • 1. Prince Louis Charles of Prussia
  • 2. Frederick William II of Prussia
  • 3. Princess Frederica Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt
  • 4. Prince Augustus William of Prussia
  • 5. Duchess Luise of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
  • 6. Louis IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
  • 7. Countess Palatine Caroline of Zweibrücken
  • 8. Frederick William I of Prussia
  • 9. Princess Sophia Dorothea of Hanover
  • 10. Ferdinand Albert II, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
  • 11. Princess Antoinette of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
  • 12. Louis VIII, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
  • 13. Countess Charlotte of Hanau-Lichtenberg
  • 14. Christian III, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken
  • 15. Countess Caroline of Nassau-Saarbrücken